Ten hazards for Toronto FC, Whitecaps

It does not look good for either Toronto FC (4-11-11, 23 points, seventh in the Eastern Conference) or the Vancouver Whitecaps (3-12-9, 18 points, ninth in the West). Major League Soccer’s Canadian contingent is being kept alive in the playoff race by optimistic math and tiebreakers. Post reporter Matthew Scianitti looks at the teams that currently occupy the 10 playoffs spots (which comprise the top three in each conference and the next four with the best record regardless of conference).

1. L.A. Galaxy | 13-3-948 points in 25 games, first in Western Conference The best team in MLS got better Monday with the addition of Irish forward Robbie Keane. Keane will add verve to a great attack led by Landon Donovan (11 goals, two assists) and David Beckham (two goals and 10 assists). And, when defenders A.J. DeLaGarza, Sean Franklin, Omar Gonzalez and Todd Dunivant are healthy, L.A. is almost unbeatable.

2. FC Dallas | 12-6-743 points in 25 games, second in West All you need to know about FC Dallas is forward Brek Shea has become the newest star of American soccer. After David Ferreira, last year’s MVP, fractured his ankle in April, the consensus was Dallas would be in a tough fight for a playoff spot. Shea, and his 10 goals, has distanced last year’s MLS Cup runners-up from the pack. The 21-year-old gallops around the field like a colt and launches the ball as if both his feet are bazookas.

3. Seattle Sounders | 11-5-942 points in 25 games, third in West Head coach Sigi Schmid continues to build a balanced team that could be primed come playoff time. Forward Fredy Montero is always read to do something exciting, but so are midfielders Alvaro Fernandez, Erik Friberg and Osvaldo Alonso. And even though the 41-year-old is set to retire whenever the Sounders’ season is over, goalkeeper Kasey Keller continues to be shine.

4. Colorado Rapids | 10-6-1040 points in 26 games, fourth in West With only two losses in its last 10, Colorado has staked its claim to a post-season berth. In that stretch last season’s MLS Cup winner has won five games, and midfielders Wells Thompson, Jeff Larentowicz and Pablo Mastroeni have inspired consistency. Mastroeni, in particular, may no longer be one of the best central midfielders in the league, but, the 34-years-old still runs ceaselessly.

5. Columbus Crew | 10-7-737 points in 24 games, first in Eastern Conference Columbus is currently recovering from a number of injuries to key players — including forward Jeff Cunningham, midfielders Eddie Gaven and Danny O’Rourke, and defender Rich Balchan — and will hope to be healthy come playoff time. Nevertheless, the current line-up is still strong: midfielders Robbie Rogers and Emmanuel Ekpo are reliable, and central defenders Julius James and Chad Marshall have become a terrific pair.

6. Real Salt Lake | 10-6-636 points in 22 games, fifth in West Like FC Dallas and the injury to David Ferreira, Salt Lake lost a dimension of its offence when Javier Morales fractured his left ankle. But head coach Jason Kreis and captain Kyle Beckerman have crafted a punishing possession game that pins opponents, and midfielders Andy Williams and Will Johnson and forwards Fabian Espindola and Alvaro Saborio continue to succeed in Morales’ absence.

7. Philadelphia Union | 8-5-1034 points in 23 games, second in East From goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, through defender Danny Califf and defensive midfielder Brian Carroll, Philadelphia is an soundly organized. As well, head coach Piotr Nowak had molded a tenacious attack midfielder Justin Mapp and forwards Sebastien Le Toux and Danny Mwanga. The addition of Freddy Adu will add punch to a possible playoff run, the team’s first after its inaugural season in 2010.

8. New York Red Bulls | 6-6-1331 points in 25 games, third in East New York’s offence is the league’s best, and it is solely because of the league-leading 12 goals from Thierry Henry; forwards Juan Agudelo (five goals) and Luke Rodgers (six goals and midfielders Joel Lindpere (six goals and five assists) and Dane Richards (three goals and seven assists) have pulled their weight. The problem is goalkeeping: five players have stepped between the posts since the beginning of the season, with former German Bundesliga standout Frank Yost being the most recent. He has conceded eight goals in four winless games.

9. Houston Dynamo | 7-7-1031 points in 24 games, fourth in East Head coach Dominic Kinnear continues to produce teams that know how to grind out results. Midfielder Brad Davis leads the league in assists (11) and continues to spread the ball. But the hallmark of any Kinnear team is its defence, and midfielder Geoff Cameron and defenders Bobby Boswell and Andre Hainault are so good at closing passing lanes.

10. Chivas USA | 7-8-930 points in 24 games, sixth in West If the rumours prove true and forward Juan Pablo Ángel arrives from L.A., that will aid Chivas’ playoff push. But the team will also need post-season performances over the next few weeks from forwards Justin Braun, Nick LaBrocca and Alejandro Moreno, in the next ten games because Chivas faces teams eyeing its post-season place, including DC, Portland and TFC.